The decree on making Russian troops’ peacetime losses a secret was challenged at Russia’s Supreme Court by a group of bloggers, journalists and public figures

MOSCOW, June 16. /TASS/. An initiative group of bloggers, journalists and public figures has turned to Russia’s Supreme Court to challenge President Vladimir Putin’s decree on making Russian troops’ peacetime losses a secret, group member, lawyer Ivan Pavlov said on Tuesday.

Putin made amendments on May 28 to the list of information referred to state secrets. Specifically, the clause in the list of information referred to state secrets, which read: "information disclosing the losses of troops in wartime" was supplemented by the words "in peacetime during the period of special operations."

According to the lawyer, the complaint was filed on Monday. "We believe this decree does not comply with federal law. The presidential decree is a subordinate regulatory act and has no force of federal law. There is a law on state secrets and information on troops’ losses does not fall under any of its categories. Therefore, we believe that the president has gone beyond his powers," the lawyer said.

Russia’s Supreme Court has three days to register the complaint and another five days either to schedule judicial hearings or reject it, the lawyer said.